Becoming involved with a fraudster on a contact or dating site can lead to a great deal of heartache and frustration, although we try to guard against this happening to Popcorn.dating members, we cannot wipe out the threat of fraud completely. To do that we need your help, so here are a few tips for staying safe and making the most of your time here.

1. Only give your email address to trusted friends

Most Popcorn.dating members are genuine, but some are experienced fraudsters who want your email address to boost their scam mail database. Occasionally legal action can be taken to prevent them, but the most effective method of avoiding these deceitful users is to stick to our messaging service until you are sure of the other person.

Avoid people who request your email in their first message, especially if they offer a flimsy excuse for needing it. If you give in, it's likely that your inbox will become flooded with spam from various unscrupulous companies. There's no reason to ask for, or send, an email address in the early stages, it makes sense to get to know each other first. Fake profiles often look great, but the messages they send are identical. They include a little chat and a request for your email address. This makes them easy to spot, because genuine users would rather get to know you first - scammers have no time or desire to build a relationship.

2. Don't give out your mobile phone number!

As with email addresses, there are plenty of scammers who want your mobile number to bombard you with spammy text messages. If they give you a number it may be a premium rate line and texting will cost you a lot of money. Sometimes these numbers are controlled electronically, so you'll never even reach a human! Again it can be difficult to take legal action, so if you feel you have been caught up in a mobile phone scam, inform your network provider immediately.

Remember, never give out your mobile number in the early stages of an online relationship, it may seem tempting but a genuine person will be happy to wait for you.

Premium rate numbers are a major scam, they may start with 0190, 0890 or any other combination, depending on where you live. If you're given one of these numbers by a potential date, be on your guard. If a number looks strange just Google it for more information. Never use these numbers just because a member tells you it is their only point of contact, that could never be true. Premium numbers are costly to establish, email addresses are free!

Don't call premium rate numbers, however cute the profile picture looks. It is almost always a fraudulent account and could end up costing you plenty for little or no reward. Most members are happy to chat online or through the forums for free.

3. Do not follow links!

Bad links are another way that scammers get you to do what they want you to. These links often promise a load of raunchy pictures and horny videos, but in reality they link out to virus laden sites or fee-paying pages. You may even be faced with a barrage of advertising that's totally unconnected with the link you followed.

We hope this helps keep you safe on Popcorn.dating, but we don't want you to worry about using this site! Remember, it's not just our site that's affected, scammers can get into any community online. Just be aware of your personal safety and let us know as soon as you spot anything suspicious, send your message to us at [email protected]!

Be safe out there, we love you guys!
Your Popcorn.dating team